Dr. Kartar Lalvani, the Indian-origin entrepreneur who founded and chairs Vitabiotics, has been conferred with Britain's prestigious Science Museum Group Fellowship in recognition of his contribution to the scientific world and philanthropy. The conferment took place at the Director's Annual Dinner at the Science Museum on the 10th of May.
London-based Lalvani, whose company became the first ever vitamin company to receive the Queen’s Award for Innovation, said on receiving the Fellowship, “Even more humbling is the honour of joining such a distinguished group of truly remarkable fellows including some of the world's greatest scientists, from Professor Stephen Hawking to NRI Nobel prize winner Sir Venki Ramakrishnan." The recipients of this fellowship also includes Queen Elizabeth II, the longest serving monarch in British history as well as His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. He also fondly recalled his time at the Science Museum, and said that it was an ‘immense honour’ and ‘truly one of my life’s greatest privileges’ to accept the Fellowship. Dr. Lalvani added that “to be honoured by this renowned, iconic institution is the highest affirmation and accolade of my life's work that I could imagine”. He praised the museum for ‘continually works to engage and inspire new generations of scientists’.
Dame Mary Archer DBE, Chairman, Science Museum Group, presented a Fellowship to the Museum, its highest accolade offer, to four individuals who have made key contributions. The first fellowship was awarded to HRH Princess Royal for her tireless efforts in encouraging young people, especially women. The second went to Dr. Lalvani. Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, UKRI, was the third recipient . The final fellowship of the evening was awarded to Dame Margaret Weston in absentia, a former Director of the Science Museum and the first woman ever to direct a national museum.
The Science Museum Group Fellows Programme was launched in 2009 as part of the Museum's centenary celebrations, to recognise some of the scientists and individuals who have changed the world through academic research, design and technology as well as scientific, communications and philanthropy.
